Behaviour and attitudes among Spanish general dentists towards the anticoagulated patient: a pilot study

Abstract

This study identifies a lack of knowledge on the part of the dentists regarding the approach to dental extraction in patients with heart valve prostheses subjected to anticoagulation. Due educational measures therefore should be reinforced among these professionals.

Dental Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Anticoagulation Dental Treatment: Assessment of a One‐Day Course at the University of Murcia, Spain

“…The dental curriculum in Spanish universities suggests teaching general pathology in the second year of dental studies and integrating it into various subjects taught in the third, fourth, and fifth years. Regardless of the number of years of professional experience, a lack of knowledge has been identified among Spanish dentists regarding the best approach to use regarding dental extraction for patients who have heart valve prostheses and are subject to anticoagulation treatment 11 . Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is recognized as essential for maintaining standards of professional practice, especially in the health professions.…”

Managing Cardiac Patients: Dentists’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices

“…Surveys exploring dentists’ knowledge of cardiac patient management have been conducted in many countries. 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 A wide range of knowledge has been observed, although it generally appears poor. 19 , 22 , 23 , 24 Overall knowledge scores observed during our study were low; however, there are no similar detailed surveys with which to compare ours, since other studies commonly evaluated single cardiac issues (eg, IE).…”

“…15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 A wide range of knowledge has been observed, although it generally appears poor. 19 , 22 , 23 , 24 Overall knowledge scores observed during our study were low; however, there are no similar detailed surveys with which to compare ours, since other studies commonly evaluated single cardiac issues (eg, IE). Compared with other studies on IE, our study indicated that 81.2% of participants identified 2 g of oral amoxicillin as first-line treatment for IE.…”

“…There are few studies on knowledge and attitudes of dentists towards other cardiac-related issues, such as managing antithrombotic medications, 24 , 25 , 30 resuscitation skills, 31 , 32 , 33 the use of AED, 33 , 34 and cardiac side effects of local dental anaesthesia. 35 , 36 Most dentists are more aware of older anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications than they are of novel anticoagulants.…”

“…Approximately 83.7% of these participants did not find it necessary to request an international normalised ratio (INR). 24 A survey of dental faculties in the United States revealed discrepancies between participants’ knowledge and teaching practices, with many dental faculty members teaching their students to discuss altering warfarin therapy for routine procedures, including cleaning, with medical providers and patients. Approximately two-thirds of them realised that an INR of 2.0 to 3.0 is acceptable prior to dental procedures.…”